Salicylaldehyde and salicylic acid derivatives and sulfur analogs thereof

ABSTRACT

Salicylaldehyde and salicylic acid derivatives and sulfur analogs thereof of the formula I ##STR1## where X is oxygen or sulfur and Y is carbon or nitrogen, and the radicals R 1  to R 4  have the meanings given in the disclosure, and processes and intermediates for manufacturing compounds I.

The present invention relates to salicylaldehyde and salicylic acid derivatives and sulfur analogs thereof of the formula I ##STR2## where R¹ is hydrogen;

a succinylimidooxy group;

a 5-membered heteroaromatic structure which contains from one to three nitrogen atoms and may carry from one to four halogen atoms and/or one or two of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy and/or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio;

a radical --OR⁵, where

R⁵ is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation, one equivalent of an alkaline earth metal cation or an organic ammonium ion;

C₃ -C₁₂ -cycloalkyl which may carry from one to three C₁ -C₄ -alkyl radicals;

C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl which may carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or one of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, cyano, C₁ --C₈ -alkylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₈ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₃ -C₁₂ -Cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenoxy or phenylcarbonyl, where the aromatic radicals in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy and/or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl which may carry from one to five halogen atoms and carries one of the following radicals: a 5-membered heteroaromatic structure which contains from one to three nitrogen atoms or one nitrogen atom and one oxygen or sulfur atom and may carry from one to four halogen atoms and/or one or two of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy and/or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; C₂ -C₆ -alkyl which carries one of the following radicals in the 2-position: C₁ -C₆ -alkoximino, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloximino, C₃ -C₆ -haloalkenyloximino or benzyloximino; C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, where these groups in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms;

phenyl which is unsubstituted or monosubstituted to trisubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy or monosubstituted to pentasubstituted by halogen;

an unsubstituted or substituted 5-membered aromatic heterocylic structure which has from one to four nitrogen atoms in the ring and is bonded via a nitrogen atom;

a group -N═CR⁶ R⁷, where R⁶ and R⁷ are each C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl which may carry phenyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy and/or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, or are each phenyl or together form a C₃ -C₁₂ -alkylene chain which may carry from one to three C₁ -C₃ -alkyl groups;

a radical ##STR3## where m is 0 or I and R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ may be identical or different and have the following meanings: hydrogen;

C₁ -C₆ -alkyl C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, where these radicals may each carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or one or two of the following groups: C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloxyl C₃ -C₆ -alknyloxy, C₁ --C₆ -alkylthio, C₃ -C₆ -alkenylthio, C₃ --C₆ -alkynylthio, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkoxy, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenylcarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloxycarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyloxycarbonyl, bis-C₁ -C₆ -dialkylamino, C₃ -C₆ -cycloalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl; unsubstituted or substituted C₃ -C₆ -cycloalkyl;

unsubstituted or substituted phenyl;

R⁶ together with R⁷ form a 4-membered to 7-membered alkylene chain which is unsubstituted or substituted and in which one CH₂ group may be replaced with oxygen, sulfur or --NH;

a group ##STR4## where R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ may be identical or different and are each hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl and 1 is P, 2, 3 or 4;

or a group

    --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --S(═O).sub.k --R.sup.18

where R¹⁸ is C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, p is 1, 2, 3 or 4 and k is 0, 1 or 2;

a radical OR⁵, where R⁵ is a group ##STR5## where R¹⁸ and have the abovementioned meanings; or a radical ##STR6## where R¹⁹ is C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or phenyl, which in turn may carry from one to four of the following substituents: halogen, nitro, cyano or C₁ -C₆ -alkyl;

R² is C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy or halogen;

R³ is hydrogen or, together with R⁴, is a group CH₂ ═CH--CH═CH₂ or N═CH--CH═CH₂ ;

R⁴ is hydrogen, halogen, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy, aryloxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, formyl or C₁ -C₈ -alkoxycarbonyl; an unsubstituted or monosubstituted to trisubstituted or, where halogen is a substituent, monosubstituted to pentasubstituted phenyl radical ##STR7## where R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are each hydrogen, halogen, cyano or nitro;

C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloxy, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyloxy or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, where these groups in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms;

di-C₁ -C₄ -alkylamino, C₃ -C₈ -cycloalkyl which may carry from one to three C₁ -C₄ -alkyl radicals;

C₁ -C₁₀ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; phenoxy where the aromatic radical may carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio;

C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl or -alkoxy which may carry from one to five halogen-atoms and/or one of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, phenyl or phenoxy, where the aromatic radicals in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio;

or R⁴ is a 5-membered heteroaromatic structure having from one to four nitrogen atoms or one or two nitrogen atoms and in addition one sulfur or oxygen atom in the ring, or is a benzofused 5-membered heteroaromatic structure having from one to three nitrogen atoms or one nitrogen atom and in addition one oxygen or sulfur atom in the ring, which heteroaromatic structures may carry from one to three halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: nitro, cyano, C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by from one to three halogen atoms and/or from one to three methyl groups;

a thienyl or benzothienyl radical which may carry from one to three halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ - or C₂ -haloalkyl or nitro;

an unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl or quinolyl radical;

or oxygen when Y is nitrogen and n is 1;

n is 1 when Y is carbon or when Y is nitrogen and R⁴ is oxygen, and 0 when Y is nitrogen and R⁴ is not oxygen;

X is oxygen or sulfur, and

Y is nitrogen when R³ is hydrogen and n is 0 or when R⁴ is oxygen and n is 1; carbon when R³ and R⁴ together form a group CH₂ ═CH--CH═CH₂ or N═CH--CH═CH₂ and carbon when R³ is hydrogen and n is 1;

and environmentally compatible salts of the compounds I.

In the abovementioned definitions, the expression unsubstituted or substituted means in each case that the groups thus defined may carry one or more, in particular from one to three, of the following substituents: halogen, nitro, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio.

The present invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds I and their use as herbicides and growth regulators, and to novel sulfones of the formula III ##STR8## as intermediates for the preparation of the compounds of the formula I. In the formula III, R² is C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy or halogen and R¹³ is C₁ -C₁₂ -alkyl or is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, halogen or alkoxy.

The literature (EP-A 223 406, EP-A 249 708, EP-A 287 072, EP-A 287 079 and EP-A 426 476) describes herbicidal substituted salicylic acids and sulfur analogs thereof. However, their action is unsatisfactory.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel salicylic acid derivatives and sulfur analogs thereof having improved herbicidal properties and possessing plant growth-regulating properties or other properties useful in crop protection.

We have found that this object is achieved by the compounds of the formula I which are defined at the outset. We have also found processes for the preparation of the compounds I and methods for controlling undesirable plant growth with the compounds I. We have furthermore found that salicylic acid derivatives of the general formula I defined above have excellent plant growth-regulating properties as well as good fungicidal and nitrification-inhibiting properties. We have also found novel intermediates for the preparation of the compounds I--the sulfones III.

Compounds of the formula I are obtained, for example, by reacting a correspondingly substituted salicylic acid derivative of the formula II with a corresponding compound of the formula III in the presence of a base. ##STR9## In formula III, R¹³ SO₂ is a conventional nucleofugic leaving group, for example arylsulfonyl, such as phenylsulfonyl or substituted phenylsulfonyl, suitable substituents being one or more, for example from 1 to 3, low molecular weight alkyl or alkoxy radicals, such as C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or -alkoxy, or halogen, e.g. chlorine, fluorine or bromine; or alkylsulfonyl, such as C₁ -C₄ -alkylsulfonyl, e.g. methylsulfonyl. Suitable bases are alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydrides, such as NaH and CaH₂ alkali metal hydroxides, such as NAOH and KOH, alkali metal alcoholates, such as potassium tert-butylate, alkali metal carbonates, such as Na₂ CO₃ and K₂ CO₃, alkali metal amides, such as NaNH₂ and lithium diisopropylamide, or tertiary amines. When an inorganic base is used, it is possible to add a phase transfer catalyst if this increases the conversion.

The sulfones of the general formula III are obtained by oxidizing a corresponding 2-alkylthio- or 2-phenylthio-5,6-dihydrofuran[2,3-d]pyrimidine (cf. Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 32 (1967), 1582) ##STR10## with an oxidizing agent, e.g. chlorine in water or hydrogen peroxide in glacial acetic acid, under mild conditions.

The intermediates of the formula II are in some cases known or can be prepared by conventional methods starting from known intermediates (cf. for example EP-A-249 707, EP-A-315 889 or Japanese Preliminary Published Application 2 056 469, Application No. 310741 of Dec. 8, 1987). The following intermediates of the formula II form the subject of the prior German Application P 39 19 435.3 of (Jun. 14, 1989 and, when X is oxygen and A is an aromatic or heteroaromatic structure bonded via a carbon atom, can be synthesized according to the scheme below from a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound IV (where R⁵ is unsubstituted or phenyl-substituted C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyl) and an α,β-unsaturated ketone V: ##STR11##

Alternatively, the intermediates of the formula II can also be prepared according to the scheme below from a methylenephosphorane IV' (Ph=phenyl) and an α,β-unsaturated ketone V: ##STR12##

The compounds IV, IV' and V are generally known or can readily be prepared by the conventional processes. Suitable bases are the abovementioned compounds. Suitable acids are strong acids, for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, tetrafluoboric acid, toluenesulfonic acid and trifluoroacetic acid. The elimination of hydrogen bromide can be carried out thermally or in the presence of a base, for example an organic amine.

If R⁴ in formula II is a heteroaromatic structure bonded via a nitrogen atom and X is an oxygen atom, this intermediate can be synthesized according to the following scheme: ##STR13## M⁺ R⁴⁻ is the particular alkali metal azolide. Suitable alcohols for the cleavage of the nitrile VII according to variant a) are, in particular, C₁ -C₄ -alkyl alcohols.

The intermediates of the formula II which are prepared as described above are usually obtained as alkyl esters. They can be hydrolyzed by known methods to give the carboxylic acids. The latter can then be converted by methods known from the literature into various esters which are required for the preparation of active ingredients of the formula I as claimed in claim 1.

Alternatively, the intermediates of the formula VII can be reacted by generally known methods with alkali metal hydroxides or tetraalkylammonium hydroxides to give the corresponding amides and then with mineral acids, for example concentrated hydrochloric acid, to give the carboxylic acids and subsequently with concentrated hydrobromic acid to give the salicylic acids IIb. These steps can, if required, be carried out without isolation of the intermediates.

If the compounds of the formula I which are prepared in the manner described are carboxylic acids (i.e. if R¹ is hydroxyl), other compounds described can also be prepared therefrom, for example by first converting the carboxylic acid in a conventional manner into an activated form, such as a halide or an imidazolide, and then reacting this with the corresponding hydroxy compound. These last two steps can also be simplified, for example, by allowing the carboxylic acid to act on the hydroxy compound in the presence of a water-eliminating agent, such as a carbodiimide.

With regard to their activity, preferred compounds I are those in which the substituents have the following meanings:

R¹ is hydrogen, succinylimidooxy,

5-membered hetaryl, such as pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl or triazolyl, in particular imidazolyl or pyrazolyl, where the aromatic radical is bonded via nitrogen and in turn may carry from one to four halogen atoms as stated above, in particular fluorine or chlorine, and/or one or two of the following radicals:

alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl or 1, 1-dimethylethyl, preferably methyl, ethyl or 1-methylethyl,

haloalkyl, such as fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, trichloromethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2, 2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl or pentafluoroethyl, in particular difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl or pentafluoroethyl;

alkoxy as stated above, having from one to four carbon atoms, haloalkoxy, such as difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, chlorodifluoromethoxy, dichlorofluoromethoxy, 1-fluoroethoxy, 2-fluoroethoxy, 2,2-difluoroethoxy, 1, 1, 2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, 2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethoxy or pentafluoroethoxy, in particular trifluoromethoxy and/or

alkylthio, such as methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, 1-methylethylthio, butylthio, 1-methylpropylthio, 2-methylpropylthio or 1,1-dimethylethylthio, in particular methylthio or ethylthio;

a radical OR⁵, where

R⁵ is hydrogen, the cation of an alkali metal or the cation of an alkaline earth metal, such as lithium, sodium, potalssium, calcium, magnesium or barium, or an environmentally compatible organic ammonium ion;

alkyl, in particular methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, 1-methylhexyl, 2-methylhexyl, 3-methylhexyl, 4-methylhexyl, 5-methylhexyl, 1-ethylpentyl, 2-ethylpentyl, 1-propylbutyl or octyl, which may carry from one to five of the abovementioned halogen atoms, in particular fluorine or chlorine, and/or one of the following radicals:

cyano, alkoxy or alkylthio having from one to four carbon atoms as stated above, in particular methoxy, ethoxy, 1-methylethoxy or methylthio;

alkylcarbonyl, inparticularmethylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl, propylcarbonyl, 1-methylethylcarbonyl, butylcarbonyl, 1-methylpropylcarbonyl, 2-methylpropylcarbonyl, 1,1-dimethylethylcarbonyl, pentylcarbonyl, 1-methylbutylcarbonyl, 2-methylbutylcarbonyl, 3-methylbutylcarbonyl, 1,1-dimethylpropylcarbonyl, 1,2-dimethylpropylcarbonyl, 2,2-dimethylpropylcarbonyl, 1-ethylpropylcarbonyl, hexylcarbonyl, 1-methylpentylcarbonyl, 2-methylpentylcarbonyl, 3-methylpentylcarbonyl, 4-methylpentylcarbonyl, 1,1-dimethylbutylcarbonyl, 1,2-dimethylbutylcarbonyl, 1,3dimethylbutylcarbonyl, 2,2-dimethylbutylcarbonyl, 2,3-dimethylbutylcarbonyl, 3,3-dimethylbutylcarbonyl, ethylbutylcarbonyl, 2-ethylbutylcarbonyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropylcarbonyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropylcarbonyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropylcarbonyl or 1-ethyl-2-methylpropylcarbonyl;

alkoxycarbonyl, such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, 1-methylethoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, 1-methylpropoxycarbonyl, 2-methylpropoxycarbonyl, 1,1-dimethylethoxycarbonyl, n-pentyloxycarbonyl, 1-methylbutoxycarbonyl, 2-methylbutoxycarbonyl, 3-methylbutoxycarbonyl, 1,2-dimethylpropoxycarbonyl, 1,1-dimethylpropoxycarbonyl, 2,2-dimethylpropoxycarbonyl, 1-ethylpropoxycarbonyl, n-hexyloxycarbonyl, 1-methylpentyloxycarbonyl, 2-methylpentyloxycarbonyl, 3-methylpentyloxycarbonyl, 4-methylpentyloxycarbonyl, 1,2-dimethylbutoxycarbonyl, 1, 3-dimethylbutoxycarbonyl, 2,3-dimethylbutoxycarbonyl, 1, 1-dimethylbutoxycarbonyl, 2,2-dimethylbutoxycarbonyl, 3,3-dimethylbutoxycarbonyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropoxycarbonyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropoxycarbonyl, 1-ethylbutoxycarbonyl, 2-ethylbutoxycarbonyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropoxycarbonyl, n-heptyloxycarbonyl, 1-methylhexyloxycarbonyl, 2-methylhexyloxycarbonyl, 3-methylhexyloxycarbonyl, 4-methylhexyloxycarbonyl, 5-methylhexyloxycarbonyl, 1-ethylpentyloxycarbonyl, 2-ethylpentyloxycarbonyl, 1-propylbutoxycarbonyl or octyloxycarbonyl, in particular methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, 1-methylethoxycarbonyl or 1-methylpropoxycarbonyl;

phenyl, phenoxy or phenylcarbonyl, where these aromatic radicals in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms as stated above, in particular fluorine, chlorine or bromine and/or from one to three of the following radicals:

alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy and/or alkylthio, each having from one to f our carbon atoms, as stated above in general and in particular, or

5-membered hetaryl which has from one to four nitrogen atoms in the ring, is bonded via a nitrogen atom and may carry from one to four of the radicals mentioned as being unsubstituted or substituted. Particular examples are 1-pyrazolyl, 3-methyl-l-pyrazolyl, 4-methyl-l-pyrazolyl, 3,5-dimethyl-l-pyrazolyl, 3-phenyl-l-pyrazolyl, 4-phenyl-1-pyrazolyl, 4-chloro-l-pyrazolyl, 4-bromo-l-pyrazolyl, 4-iodo-l-pyrazolyl, 1-imidazolyl, 1-benzimidazolyl, 1,2,4-triazol-l-yl, 3-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-l-yl, 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-l-yl or 1-benzotriazolyl;

C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl as stated above which may carry from one to five halogen atoms, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, in particular fluorine or chlorine, and additionally carries one of the following radicals:

5-membered hetaryl having from one to three nitrogen atoms as stated above for R¹, where the aromatic ring may be bonded via nitrogen or carbon, or 5-membered hetaryl containing a nitrogen atom and an oxygen or sulfur atom, which carries alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or alkylthio as stated under R¹ as substituents;

C₂ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₂ -C₄ -alkyl, which is substituted in the 2-position by C₁ -C₆ -alkoximino, e.g. methoximino, ethoximino or propoximino; C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloximino, such as 2-propenyloximino, 2-butenyloximino or 3-butenyloximino; C₃ -C₆ -haloalkenyloximino, such as 3,3-dichloro-2-propenyloximinoor2,3,3-trichloro-2-propenyloximino or benzyloximino;

alkenyl, such as 2-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-2-pebtenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1, 3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1, 3-dimethyl- 3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2-trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-l-methyl-2-propenyl or 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl, in particular 2-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl or 3-methyl-2-pentenyl; alkynyl, such as 2-propynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, 1-methyl-2-propynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 4-pentynyl, 1-methyl-3-butynyl,2-methyl-3-butynyl,l-methyl-2-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl, 1-ethyl-2-propynyl, 2-hexynyl, 3-hexynyl, 4-alkynyl, 5-hexynyl, 1-methyl-2-pentynyl, 1-methyl-3-pentynyl, 1-methyl-4-pentynyl, 2-methyl-3-pentynyl, 2-methyl-4-pentynyl, 3-methyl-4-pentynyl, 4-methyl-2-pentynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 1-ethyl-2-butynyl, 1-ethyl-3-butynyl, 2-ethyl-3-butynyl or 1-ethyl-l-methyl-2-propynyl, preferably 2-propynyl, 2-butynyl, 1-methyl-2-propynyl or 1-methyl-2-butynyl, in particular 2-propynyl, where these alkenyl and alkynyl groups may carry from one to five of the halogen atoms stated above in general and in particular;

or R⁵ is C₃ -C₁₂ -cycloalkyl, in particular C₃ -C₆ -cycloalkyl, such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by from one to three C₁ -C₄ -alkyl radicals;

phenyl which is unsubstituted or monosubstituted to trisubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, methoxy or ethoxy, or phenyl which is substituted by from one to five halogen atoms, e.g. chlorine or fluorine;

a radical --N═CR⁶ R⁷, where

R⁶ and R⁷ are each straight-chain or branched C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl, preferably C₁ -C₁₅ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₉ -alkyl, which may carry phenyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; or are each phenyl or together form C₃ -C₁₂ -alkylene, preferably C₄ -C₇ -alkylene, which may carry from one to three C₁ -C₃ -alkyl groups, preferably methyl or ethyl groups;

or R¹ is a radical ##STR14## where m is 0 or 1 and R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are each in general and in particular the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or phenyl groups which are stated for R⁵ and may be substituted by halogen, such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine, or by alkoxy or by alkylthio as stated for R¹ or by alkylcarbonyl or alkoxycarbonyl as stated for R⁵ ; examples of the group --NR¹⁴ R¹⁵ are the following radicals: dimethylamino, tert-butylamino, cyclohexylamino, 1-cyano-1-cyclohexylamino, isopropylamino, sec-butylamino, methylamino, diethylamino, pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidyl, 4-morpholinyl, phenylamino and methylphenylamino;

R¹⁴ together with R¹⁵ is a four-membered to seven-membered, in particular four-membered to six-membered, alkylene chain which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more of the radicals mentioned as being unsubstituted or substituted and in which a CH₂ group may be replaced with oxygen, sulfur or NH;

or is a group ##STR15## where may be from 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2, and R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ in general and in particular are each hydrogen or one of the alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups stated under R⁵, preferably methyl or ethyl;

or is a group ##STR16## p0 where p may be from 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2, and R¹⁸ in general and in particular is one of the alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups stated under R⁵, preferably methyl or ethyl; or is a radical OR⁵, where R⁵ is ##STR17## where p and R¹⁸ have the abovemetioned meanings; or is a radical ##STR18## where R¹⁹ is alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, particularly preferably methyl, phenyl or 4-methylphenyl; R² in general and in particular is one of the alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy and/or haloalkoxy groups stated for R¹, each of from one to four carbon atoms, or halogen, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, in particular methyl, chlorine or methoxy;

R³ is hydrogen or, together with R⁴, is a group CH₂ ═CH--CH═CH₂ or N═CH--CH═CH₂, and

R⁴ is hydrogen; halogen as stated for R¹, in particular fluorine, chlorine or bromine;

C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, such as methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy or tert-butoxy;

C₁ -C₃ -haloalkoxy, for example C₁ -C₃ -alkoxy substituted by from 1 to 5 halogen atoms, such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine, e.g. trifluoromethoxy or difluoromethoxy;

aryloxy, such as phenoxy, which is unsubstituted or substituted by methyl, fluorine, chlorine or methoxy;

C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl as stated for R¹, in particular C₁ - or C₂ -haloalkyl, such as trifluoromethyl; formyl;

C₂ -C₈ -alkoxycarbonyl as stated specifically above for R¹, in particular methoxycarbonyl or ethoxycarbonyl;

unsubstituted or substituted phenyl in which suitable substituents R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are halogen, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine; cyano; nitro; unsubstituted or halogen-substituted alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy or alkynyl, each of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; di-C₁ -C₄ -alkylamino, such as dimethylamino, diethylamino, dipropylamino, di-1-methylethylamino, dibutylamino, di-1-methylpropylamino, di-2-methylpropylamino, di-1,1-dimethylethylamino, ethylmethylamino, propylmethylamino, 1-methylethylmethylamino or butylmethylamino; unsubstituted or alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl, as stated for R⁵, alkoxycarbonyl or alkylthio as stated for R⁵, unsubstituted or substituted phenoxy as stated for R⁵, C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl or -alkoxy, in particular C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or -alkoxy, preferably C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or -alkoxy, which are unsubstituted or substituted by the stated radicals; the following substituted phenyl radicals are examples of R¹ :

2-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 2-fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2,3-difluorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-iodophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl, pentafluorophenyl, pentachlorophenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,6-dichlorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 3,5-dichlorophenyl, 2-chloro-6-methylphenyl, 2,3,5-trichlorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2-chloro-methylphenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl, 2-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenyl, 4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl, 3-cyanophenyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 3-phenoxyphenyl, 3-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-phenyl or 3-trifluoromethylphenyl;

unsubstituted or substituted 5-membered hetaryl or benzofused hetaryl having from 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms, as stated for R¹, or having one or 2 nitrogen atoms and in addition one sulfur or oxygen atom, such as unsubstituted or substituted 5-membered hetaryl having from 2 to 4 nitrogen atoms, as stated f or R¹, or having one or 2 nitrogen atoms and in addition one sulfur or oxygen atom, such as isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl or thiadiazolyl.

Examples of hetaryl radicals are the following: pyrrolyl-1-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-2-yl, 1-methylpyrrol-3-yl, pyrazol-1-yl, 4-methylpyrazol-l-yl, 3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl, 3,4,5-trimethylpyrazol-l-yl, 4-chloropyrazol-l-yl, 4-phenylpyrazol-l-yl, 4-isopropylpyrazol-l-yl, 4-nitropyrazol-1-yl, imidazol-1-yl, 4,5-dimethylimidazolyl, 2-methyl-4,5-dichloroimidazolyl, 4(5)-nitroimidazolyl-l-yl, [1,2,4]-triazol-l-yl, 3(5)-methyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-l-yl, [1,2,3]-triazol-l-yl, 4,5-dimethyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-l-yl, [1,2,3,4]-tetrazol-l-yl, 1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, 1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl, 1,3,5-trimethylpyrazol-4-yl, 1-methylpyrazol-5-yl, 1-phenylpyrazol-5-yl, 1-methylpyrazol-3-yl, 1-phenylpyrazol-3-yl, 1-methylimidazol-2-yl, 1-methylimidazol-5-yl, 1-phenylimidazol-5-yl, 1-phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, 3-methylisoxazol-5-yl, 3-isopropylisoxazol-5-yl, 3-phenylisoxazol-5-yl, oxazol-2-yl, 2-methyloxazol-4-yl, thiazol-4-yl, 2-benzothiazol-4-yl, 4-methylthiazol-2-yl, 4-methylthioazol- 5-yl, 4-phenylthiazol-2-yl or 2-phenylthiazol-5-yl.

Unsubstituted or substituted thienyl or benzothienyl radicals are, for example, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2,3-dichloro-4-thienyl,, 2-methyl-5-thienyl, 2-nitro-5-thienyl, 2-benzothienyl and 3-benzothienyl.

Unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl or quinolyl radicals are, for example, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 2-chloro-1-naphthyl, 6-chloro-l-naphthyl, 2,6-dichloro-1-naphthyl, 2-methyl-6-chloro-l-naphthyl, 2-quinolyl, 4-quinolyl, 6-quinolyl, 8-quinolyl and 6-methyl-2-quinolyl.

If a radical is defined as unsubstituted or substituted, it may carry one or more, in particular from one to three, of the following substituents: halogen, in particular chlorine or bromine, nitro or cyano, or alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or alkylthio as stated for R¹.

Particularly preferred compounds of the formula I are those in which R 2 iS methoxy, X is oxygen and Y and R¹, R³ and R⁴ have the meanings stated at the outset.

Suitable salts of the compounds of the formula I are environmentally compatible salts, for example alkali metal salts, in particular the potassium or sodium salt, alkaline earth metal salts, in particular the calcium, magnesium or barium salt, manganese, copper, zinc or iron salts and ammonium, phosphonium, sulfonium or sulfoxonium salts, for example ammonium salts, tetraalkylammonium salts, benzyltrialkylammonium salts, trialkylsulfonium salts or trialkylsulfoxonium salts.

The herbicidal, growth-regulating, fungicidal or nitrification-inhibiting compounds I according to the invention, or agents containing them, may be applied for instance in the form of directly sprayable solutions, powders, suspensions (including high-percentage aqueous, oily or other suspensions), dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dusts, broadcasting agents, or granules by spraying, atomizing, dusting, broadcasting or watering. The forms of application depend entirely on the purpose for which the agents are being used, but they must ensure as fine a distribution of the active ingredients according to the invention as possible.

The compounds I are generally suitable for preparing solutions, emulsions, pastes and oil dispersions to be sprayed direct. Examples of inert additives are mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, such as kerosene or diesel oil, further coal-tar oils, and oils of vegetable or animal origin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes and their derivatives, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, chlorobenzene, isophorone, etc., and strongly polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone, water, etc.

Aqueous formulations may be prepared from emulsion concentrates, pastes, oil dispersions, wettable powders or water-dispersible granules by adding water. To prepare emulsions, pastes and oil dispersions the ingredients as such or dissolved in an oil or solvent may be homogenized in water by means of wetting or dispersing agents, adherents or emulsifiers. Concentrates which are suitable for dilution with water may be prepared from active ingredient, wetting agent, adherent, emulsifying or dispersing agent and possibly solvent or oil.

Examples of surfactants are: alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts of aromatic sulfonic acids, e.g., ligninsulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid and dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, and of fatty acids, alkyl and alkylaryl sulfonates, and alkyl, lauryl ether and fatty alcohol sulfates, and salts of sulfated hexadecanols, heptadecanols, and octadecanols, salts of fatty alcohol glycol ethers, condensation products of sulfonated naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives with formaldehyde, condensation products of naphthalene or naphthalenesulfonic acids with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ethers, ethoxylated isooctylphenol, ethoxylated octylphenol and ethoxylated nonylphenol, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ethers, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, isotridecyl alcohol, fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol esters, lignin-sulfite waste liquors and methyl cellulose.

Powders, dusts and broadcasting agents may be prepared by mixing or grinding the active ingredients with a solid carrier.

Granules, e.g., coated, impregnated or homogeneous granules, may be prepared by bonding the active ingredients to solid carriers. Examples of solid carriers are mineral earths such as silicic acids, silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, attapulgus clay, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground plastics, fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, and ureas, and vegetable products such as grain meals, bark meal, wood meal, and nutshell meal, cellulosic powders, etc.

The formulations contain from 0.1 to 95, and preferably 0.5 to 90, % by weight of active ingredient. The active ingredients are used in a purity of from 90 to 100, and preferably from 95 to 100, % (according to the NMR spectrum).

The compounds I according to the invention may be formulated for instance as follows:

I. 90 parts by weight of compound no. 3.008 is mixed with 10 parts by weight of N-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidone. A mixture is obtained which is suitable for application in the form of very fine drops.

II. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 3.013 is dissolved in a mixture consisting of 80 parts by weight of xylene, 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 8 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide and I mole of oleic acid-N-monoethanolamide, 5 parts by weight of the calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, and 5 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 moles of ethylene oxide and I mole of castor oil. By pouring the solution into 100,000 parts by weight of water and uniformly distributing it therein, an aqueous dispersion is obtained containing 0.02% by weight of the active ingredient.

III. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 3.008 is dissolved in a mixture consisting of 40 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, 30 parts by weight of isobutanol, 20 parts by weight of the adduct of 7 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of isooctylphenol, and 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 moles of ethylene oxide and I mole of castor oil. By pouring the solution into 100,000 parts by weight of water and finely distributing it therein, an aqueous dispersion is obtained containing 0.02% by weight of the active ingredient.

IV. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 3.008 is dissolved in a mixture consisting of 25 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, 65 parts by weight of a mineral oil fraction having a boiling point between 210° and 280°C., and 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of castor oil. By pouring the solution into 100,000 parts by weight of water and uniformly distributing it therein, an aqueous dispersion is obtained containing 0.02% by weight of the active ingredient.

V. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 3.008 is well mixed with 3 parts by weight of the sodium salt of diisobutylnaphthalene-alpha-sulfonic acid, 17 parts by weight of the sodium salt of a lignin-sulfonic acid obtained from a sulfite waste liquor, and 60 parts by weight of powdered silica gel, and triturated in a hammer mill. By uniformly distributing the mixture in 20,000 parts by weight of water, a spray liquor is obtained containing 0.1% by weight of the active ingredient.

VI. 3 parts by weight of compound no. 3.013 is intimately mixed with 97 parts by weight of particulate kaolin. A dust is obtained containing 3% by weight of the active ingredient.

VII. 30 parts by weight of compound no. 3.013 is intimately mixed with a mixture consisting of 92 parts by weight of powdered silica gel and 8 parts by weight of paraffin oil which has been sprayed onto the surface of this silica gel. A formulation of the active ingredient is obtained having good adherence.

VIII. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 3.008 is intimately mixed with 2 parts of the calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, 8 parts of a fatty alcohol polyglycol ether, 2 parts of the sodium salt of a phenolsulfonic acid-urea-formaldehyde condensate and 68 parts of a paraffinic mineral oil. A stable oily dispersion is obtained.

The active ingredients or the herbicidal or growth-regulating agents containing them may be applied pre- or postemergence. If certain crop plants tolerate the active ingredients less well, application techniques may be used in which the herbicidal agents are sprayed from suitable equipment in such a manner that the leaves of sensitive crop plants are if possible not touched, and the agents reach the soil or the unwanted plants growing beneath the crop plants (post-directed, lay-by treatment).

The application rates of herbicidal active ingredient depend on the objective to be achieved, the time of the year, the plants to be combated and their growth stage, and are from 0.001 to 1, and preferably from 0.01 to 0.5, kg/ha.

The growth-regulating salicylic acid derivatives of the formula I may exercise a variety of influences on practically all plant development stages, and are therefore used as growth regulators. The diversity of action of growth regulators depends especially on

a) the type and variety of plant;

b) the time applied, with reference to the development stage of the plants and the time of the year;

c) the place and method of application (seed treatment, soil treatment, or application to foliage);

d) climatic factors, e.g., average temperature, amount of precipitate, sunshine and duration;

e) soil conditions (including fertilization);

f) the formulation of the active ingredient; and

g) the concentration at which the active ingredient is applied.

A description of some of the various possibilities of using the growth regulators according to the invention in agriculture and horticulture is given below.

A. Vegetative plant growth can be inhibited to a considerable extent, a fact which is manifested particularly in a reduction in plant height. The treated plants thus have a compact habit; furthermore, the leaf color is darker.

Of advantage in practice is for example the reduction in grass growth on roadsides, hedges, canal embankments and on areas such as parks, sportsgrounds, fruit orchards, lawns and airfields, thus reducing expensive and time-consuming mowing.

A further feature of economic interest is the increase in the rigor of crops which tend to lodge, such as cereals, Indian corn, sunflowers and soybeans. The shortening and strengthening of the stem thus caused reduces or eliminates the danger of lodging under unfavorable weather conditions.

The reduction in vegetative growth is also important in fruit and other trees, thus saving on pruning costs. With growth regulators, it is also possible to break up the alternate breeding rhythm of fruit trees.

The use of growth regulators is also important for inhibiting plant height and changing the time of ripening in cotton. It is thus possible for this important crop to be harvested completely mechanically.

Growth regulators may also increase or inhibit lateral branching. This is of interest when, for instance in tobacco plants, it is desired to inhibit the formation of lateral shoots (suckers) in favor of leaf development.

With growth regulators, it is possible for instance in winter rape to considerably increase the resistance to freeze injury. On the one hand, upward growth and the development of a too luxuriant (and thus particularly frost-susceptible) leaf or plant mass are inhibited; on the other, the young rape plants are kept, in spite of favorable growth conditions, in the vegetative development stage before winter frosts begin. The danger of freeze injury is thus eliminated in plants which tend to lose prematurely their inhibition to bloom and pass into the generative phase. In other crops, too, e.g., winter cereals, it is advantageous if the plants are well tillered in the fall as a result of treatment with the compounds according to the invention, but enter winter with not too lush a growth. This is a preventive measure against increased susceptibility to freeze injury and--because of the relatively low leaf or plant mass--attack by various (especially fungus) diseases. The inhibition of vegetative growth also makes closer planting possible in numerous crops, which means an increase in yield, based on the area cropped.

B. Better yields both of plant parts and plant materials may be obtained with the novel agents. It is thus for instance possible to induce increased formation of buds, blossom, leaves, fruit, seed grains, roots and tubers, to increase the sugar content of sugarbeets, sugarcane and citrus fruit, to raise the protein content of cereals and soybeans, and to stimulate the increased formation of latex in rubber trees.

The active ingredients of the formula I may raise the yield by influencing plant metabolism or by promoting or inhibiting vegetative and/or generative plant growth.

C. It is also possible with the compounds of the formula I to shorten or lengthen growth stages and to accelerate or retard the ripening process in plant parts either before or after harvesting.

A factor of economic interest is for example the facilitation of harvesting made possible by a chemical, temporally concentrated loosening (abscission) of the adherence of stalks to the branches of citrus fruit, olive trees, and other kinds of pomes, drupes and indehiscent fruit. The same mechanism, i.e., promotion of the formation of separation layers between fruit or leaf and stem of the plant, is also essential for a readily controllable defoliation of crop plants, e.g., cotton.

D. Further, transpiration in crop plants may be reduced with growth regulators. This is particularly important for plants growing in agricultural areas which are expensive to irrigate, e.g., in arid or semi-arid areas. Irrigation frequency can be reduced by using the compounds according to the invention, making for lower costs. As a result of the use of growth regulators, the water available can be better utilized, because, inter alia,

the size of the stomata opening is reduced;

a thicker epidermis and cuticle are formed;

penetration of the soil by the roots is improved;

the micro-climate in the stand is favorably influenced by the more compact growth.

The active ingredients according to the invention may be applied not only to the seed (as a dressing), but also to the soil, i.e., via the roots, and--the method particularly preferred--to the foliage by spraying.

As a result of the good tolerance by crop plants, the application rate when the active ingredients are used as growth regulators may vary within wide limits.

When the active ingredients are used for treating seed, amounts of from 0.001 to 50, and preferably from 0.01 to 10, g per kg of seed are generally required. For foliage and soil treatment, amounts of from 0.001 to 10, preferably from 0.01 to 3, and particularly from 0.01 to 0.5, kg/ha are generally considered sufficient.

In view of the numerous application methods possible, the compounds according to the invention, or agents containing them, may be used in a large number of crops. Those which follow are given by way of example:

    ______________________________________                                         Botanical name          Common name                                            ______________________________________                                         Allium cepa             onions                                                 Ananas comosus          pineapples                                             Arachis hypogaea        peanuts                                                                        (groundnuts)                                           Asparagus officinalis   asparagus                                              Beta vulgaris spp. altissima                                                                           sugarbeets                                             Beta vulgaris spp. rapa fodder beets                                           Brassica napus var. napus                                                                              rapeseed                                               Brassica napus var. napobrassica                                                                       swedes                                                 Brassica napus var. rapa                                                                               turnips                                                Brassica rapa var. silvestris                                                  Camelia sinensis        tea plants                                             Carthamus tinctorius    safflower                                              Carya illinoinensis     pecan trees                                            Citrus limon            lemons                                                 Citrus sinensis         orange trees                                           Coffea arabica (Coffea canephora,                                                                      coffee plants                                          Coffea liberica)                                                               Cucumis sativus         cucumbers                                              Cynodon dactylon        Bermudagrass                                           Daucus carota           carrots                                                Elais guineensis        oil palms                                              Fragaria vesca          strawberries                                           Glycine max             soybeans                                               Gossypium hirsutum (Gossypium arboreum,                                                                cotton                                                 Gossypium hirbaccum, Gossypium vitifolium)                                     Helianthus annuus       sunflowers                                             Hevea brasiliensis      rubber plants                                          Hordeum vulgare         barley                                                 Humulus lupulus         hops                                                   Ipomoea batatas         sweet potatoes                                         Juglans regia           walnut trees                                           Lens culinaris          lentils                                                Linum usitatissimum     flax                                                   Lycopersicon lycopersicum                                                                              tomatoes                                               Malus spp.              apple trees                                            Manihot esculenta       cassava                                                Medicago sativa         alfalfa (lucerne)                                      Musa spp.               banana plants                                          Nicotiana tabacum (N. rustica)                                                                         tobacco                                                Olea europaea           olive trees                                            Picea abies             Norway spruce                                          Pinus spp.              pine trees                                             Pisum sativum           English peas                                           Prunus avium            cherry trees                                           Prunus persica          peach trees                                            Pyrus communis          pear trees                                             Ribes sylvestre         redcurrants                                            Ricinus communis        castor-oil plants                                      Saccharum officinarum   sugar cane                                             Secale cereale          rye                                                    Solanum tuberosum       Irish potatoes                                         Sorghum bicolor (s. vulgare)                                                                           sorghum                                                Theobroma cacao         cacao plants                                           Trifolium pratense      red clover                                             Triticum aestivum       wheat                                                  Triticum durum          durum wheat                                            Vicia faba              tick beans                                             Vitis vinifera          grapes                                                 Zea mays                Indian corn,                                                                   sweet corn,                                                                    maize                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The compounds I are of particular interest for controlling a large number of fungi in various crops or their seeds, especially wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, Indian corn, lawns, cotton, soybeans, coffee, sugar cane, fruit and ornamentals in horticulture and viticulture, and in vegetables such as cucumbers, beans and cucurbits, and in the seeds of these plants.

The novel compounds are particularly useful for controlling the following plant diseases:

Erysiphe graminis in cereals,

Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea in cucurbits,

Podosphaera leucotricha in apples,

Uncinula necator or in vines,

Puccinia species in cereals,

Rhizoctonia species in cotton,

Ustilago species in cereals and sugar cane,

Venturia inaequalis (scab) in apples,

Helminthosporium species in cereals,

Septoria nodorum in wheat,

Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) in strawberries and grapes,

Cercospora arachidicola in groundnuts,

Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides in wheat and barley,

Pyricularia oryzae in rice,

Phytophthora infestans in potatoes and tomatoes,

Fusarium and Verticillium species in various plants,

Plasmopara viticola in grapes,

Alternaria species in fruit and vegetables.

The compounds are applied by treating the fungi, or the plants, seed or materials to be protected against fungus attack, or the soil, with a fungicidally effective amount of the active ingredients. They may be applied before or after infection of the plants or seeds by the fungi.

The fungicides generally contain from 0.1 to 95, and preferably from 0.5 to 90, wt % of active ingredient. The application rates are from 0.02 to 3 kg or more of active ingredient per hectare, depending on the type of effect desired. The novel compounds may also be used for protecting materials, e.g., on Paecilomyces variotii.

When the active ingredients are used for treating seed, amounts of from 0.001 to 50, and preferably from 0.01 to 10, g per kg of seed are usually required.

The agents and the ready-to-use formulations prepared from them, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, dusts, pastes and granules, are applied in conventional manner, for example by spraying, atomizing, dusting, scattering, dressing or watering.

To increase the spectrum of action and to achieve synergistic effects, the compounds I according to the invention may be mixed with each other, or mixed and applied together with numerous representatives of other herbicidal or growth-regulating active ingredient groups. Examples of suitable components are diazines, 4H-3,1-benzoxazine derivatives, benzothiadiazinones, 2,6-dinitroanilines, N-phenylcarbamates, thiolcarbamates, halocarboxylic acids, triazines, amides, ureas, diphenyl ethers, triazinones, uracils, benzofuran derivatives, cyclohexane-1,3-dione derivatives, quinolinecarboxylic acids, (hetero)-aryloxyphenoxypropionic acids and salts, esters, amides thereof, etc.

It may also be useful to apply the compounds I, either alone or in combination with other herbicides, in admixture with other crop protection agents, e.g., agents for combating pests or phytopathogenic fungi or bacteria. The compounds may also be mixed with solutions of mineral salts used to remedy nutritional or trace element deficiencies. Non-phytotoxic oils and oil concentrates may also be added.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES

The directions given in the following synthesis examples were used, after appropriate modification of the starting materials, to obtain further compounds I and II. The compounds thus obtained are given in the following tables with their physical data. Compounds without these data may be synthesized analogously from the corresponding starting materials. The structures given in Table 3 describe particularly preferred active ingredients of the formula I.

EXAMPLE 1 Methyl 6-phenylsalicylate Variant 1

58 g (0.5 mol) of methyl acetoacetate is added to a solution of 0.5 g of sodium hydride in 100 ml of dried ethanol. 66 g (0.5 mol) of cinnamaldehyde is dripped in quickly and the whole is stirred for about 10 hours at room temperature. The mixture is then saturated at O° C. with anhydrous HCl gas and then stirred for about 1 day at room temperature (20° C.). The solvent is removed and the residue is distilled under reduced pressure, HCl gas initially being liberated. The fractions distilling over at 115 to 165° C./0.2 mbar are combined and chromatographed using silica gel (eluation with toluene/cyclohexane). There is obtained 33.7 g of a yellow oil as intermediate, which is dissolved in 150 ml of methylene chloride. At O° C. a solution of 22.9 g (0.14 mol) of bromine in 150 ml of glacial acetic acid is rapidly added, and the mixture is slowly heated and refluxed for one hour. The reaction solution is poured into 200 ml of methylene chloride and 500 ml of water. The organic phase is separated and worked up in the usual manner. A yellow solid is obtained as intermediate, which is dissolved in 400 ml of methyl tert-butyl ether for working up. 55 g (0.56 mol) of triethylamine is added and the mixture is refluxed for 5 hours. 300 ml of water is added, and the organic phase is separated off and worked up in the usual manner. The residue is distilled at 100° to 114° C./0.2 mbar. Yield: 11.9 g.

Variant 2

Under a nitrogen blanket, 8.55 g (0.3 mol) of sodium hydride (85% strength) is added in portions to a solution of 57 g (0.15 mol) of methyl 4-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)-acetoacetate in 700 ml of THF. The mixture is then heated to about 35° C. At this temperature, 20 g (0.15 mol) of cinnamaldehyde is added in portions, followed by 5 to 10 drops of water; the reaction initially proceeds exothermically and has to be cooled. It is then continued at 35° C. until the ylide has been completely reacted (checked by thin-layer chromatography, about 12 to 14 hours). The reaction mixture is acidified with 10% strength hydrochloric acid, 1 liter of water is added and the mixture is extracted four times, each time with 150 ml of ether. The combined ether phases are extracted by shaking with 200 ml of water and 200 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated down. The brackish-brown residue is taken up with 400 ml of methyl tert-butyl ether and boiled for several hours. After cooling the insoluble residue (triphenylphosphine oxide) is removed by filtration and the filtrate is evaporated down. The oil which remains is purified by chromatography using silica gel (developer: toluene/ethyl acetate with an increasing portion of ethyl acetate). All the fractions prior to the triphenylphosphine oxide are combined, and brominated, aromatized and worked up according to the instructions given above. There is obtained 14.5 g of product.

The following compounds may be prepared analogously:

Methyl 6-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-salicylate, ¹ H-NMR (CDCl₃ : δ=3.58 (S; 3H); 6.70 (d; 1H); 7.05 (d; 1H); 7.10 (d; 2H); 7.25-7.40 (M; 2H); 10.85 (S; 1H).

Methyl 6-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-salicylate, ¹ H-NMR (CDCl₃ : δ=3.58 (s; 3H); 6.65 (d; 1H); 7.0-7.5 (M; 5H); 11.1 (S; 1H).

EXAMPLE 2 General Directions for Preparing Salicylic Acid Derivatives of the Formula I

0.073 mol of the aromatic 2-hydroxycarboxylic acid in question is dissolved in 320 ml of dried dimethyl sulfoxide. 16.4 g (0.146 mol) of potassium tert-butylate is added, the temperature of the reaction mixture rising to about 30° C. After the mixture has been cooled to room temperature, 16.8 g (0.073 mol) of 4-methoxy-2-methylsulfonyl-5,6-dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-pyrimidine is added and the mixture is stirred for about 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction mixture is poured into about 2 liters of cold water, acidified with hydrochloric acid and extracted with methyl tert-butyl ether. After conventional working up the crude product remaining may, if necessary, be purified by stirring with a suitable solvent, or by chromatography using silica gel.

EXAMPLE 3 General Directions for Preparing Salicylic Acid Derivatives of the Formula I

5.1 g of potassium hydroxide and 0.08 mol of the hydroxycarboxylic acid in question are dissolved in 80 ml of methanol. The mixture is stirred for 10 minutes at room temperature and evaporated down under reduced pressure. For drying, toluene is repeatedly added and is then evaporated at 50° C. under reduced pressure. The light red powder thus obtained is taken up in 300 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide and 2.9 g of 80% strength sodium hydride is added in portions at room temperature, gas evolution occurring. when no more gas is liberated, a solution of 0.08 mol of 4-methoxy-2-methylsulfonyl-5,6-dihydrofuran-[2,3-dl-pyrimidine in 80 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide is dripped in and the mixture is stirred for 30 minutes. It is then poured into 2 liters of water, neutralized with acetic acid and washed with methylene chloride. The mixture is strongly acidified with hydrochloric acid and extracted several times with methyl tert-butyl ether. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent is evaporated off under reduced pressure. The substance remaining may be purified by chromatography using silica gel.

EXAMPLE 4 General Directions for Preparing Aromatic Carboxylic Oxime Esters or Similar Compounds of the Formula I

3.2 mmol of the aromatic 2-(4-methoxy-5,6-dihydrofuran-[2,3-dl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-oxycarboxylic acid in question and 20 ml of dimethoxyethane are introduced and 3.2 mmol of sodium hydride is added. Gas immediately evolves. The mixture is stirred for 1 hour at room temperature and cooled to O° C., and 3.5 mmol of oxalyl chloride is added. This mixture is stirred for 1 hour at O° C. and the excess oxalyl chloride is removed by evaporating about 30% of the solvent under reduced pressure. 4.2 mmol of the oxime in question or a comparable hydroxy compound dissolved in 10 ml of dimethoxyethane is added, followed by 3.2 mmol of pyridine at O° C., and the mixture is heated within 1 hour to room temperature. The mixture is poured into 120 ml of cold water and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated down under reduced pressure. The substance which remains can be further purified by chromatography

EXAMPLE 5

a) 2-Methoxy-6-(Pyrazol-l-yl)-Benzonitrile

At 50° C. and under a nitrogen blanket, a solution of 0.273 mol of sodium pyrazolide (prepared from equimolar amounts of pyrazole and sodium hydride) in 140 ml of N,N-dimethylethyleneurea is dripped into a solution of 41,2 g (0.273 mol) of 2-methoxy-6-fluorobenzonitrile (preparation: J. Heterocycl. Chem., 25, 1173, 1988) in 50 mi of N, N-dimethylethyleneurea, and the mixture is stirred for 2 hours at 60° C. The batch is cooled and stirred into 4 liters of ice water, and the crystals which precipitate are suction filtered and dried; there is obtained 37.1 g of the product of m.p. 93°-94° C.

b) O-Ethylimino 2-methoxy-6-(pyrazol-l-yl)-benzoate

At 0° C. and while stirring, 37.1 g (0.186 mol) of 2-methoxy-6-(pyrazol-1-yl)-benzonitrile is introduced with the exclusion of moisture into 68.0 g of a 30% strength solution of dry HCI gas in ethanol. After the mixture has been diluted with 20 ml of ethanol it was stirred for 48 hours at room temperature and poured into 500 ml of ice water. A pH of 7 is set up by adding 2N caustic solution and then saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The crystals which precipitate out are suction filtered and dried. There is obtained 30.3 g of the product of m.p. 72°-73° C.

c) Ethyl 2-methoxy-6-(pyrazol-l-yl)-benzoate:

29.0 g (0.118 mol) of 0-ethylimino 2-methoxy-6-(pyrazol-l-yl)-benzoate and 300 ml of hydrochloric acid are stirred at 50° C. for 16 hours. After the reaction mixture has been cooled it is extracted three times, each time with 100 ml of methylene chloride. After the extract has been evaporated down, 16.7 g of residue is obtained which is chromatographed on silica gel with toluene/ethyl acetate (9:1). There obtained 13.4 g of the product of m.p. 159°-163° C.

d) Ethyl 6-(pyrazol-l-yl)-salicylate:

At 20° to 25° C., 200 ml (0.2 mol) of 1-molar boron tribromide solution is dripped into a solution of 15.3 g (0.062 mol) of ethyl 2-methoxy-(pyrazol-1-yl)-benzoate in 140 ml of methylene chloride. The mixture is stirred for about 10 hours at room temperature and then 160 ml of ethanol is dripped in at 0° C. This mixture is stirred for 15 minutes, the solvent is substantially removed under reduced pressure and at 30° C., and the residue is stirred with 200 ml of water. The residue is extracted three times, each time with 70 ml of diethyl ether, and evaporated down, and the crude product is chromatographed on silica gel using toluene/ethyl acetate. Yield: 8.7 g of the product as an oil. ¹ H-NMR (selected signals): δ=0.98 (t); 4.10 (q); 6.38; 6.90; 7.10; 7.45 (t); 7.60; 7.70; 10.70 (s).

Hydrolysis of this compound with dilute sodium hydroxide solution gives 6-(pyrazol-l-yl)-salicylic acid (m.p.: 175°-179° C.).

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Salicylic acid derivatives of the fomula II                                     ##STR19##                              II                                     No. R.sup.1   R.sup.4           Phys. data mp. [°C.]                    __________________________________________________________________________     1.001                                                                              OH        2-Fluorophenyl                                                   1.002                                                                              OH        4-Fluorophenyl    250-255 (decomp).sup.a)                        1.003                                                                              OH        2,6-Difluorophenyl                                               1.004                                                                              OH        2,4-Difluorophenyl                                               1.005                                                                              OH        2-Fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl                                 1.006                                                                              OH        2-Chlorophenyl    168-179                                        1.007                                                                              OH        2-Bromophenyl                                                    1.008                                                                              OH        2-Chloro-6-fluorophenyl                                          1.009                                                                              OH        Pentafluorophenyl                                                1.010                                                                              OH        2,4-Dichlorophenyl                                               1.011                                                                              OH        2,6-Dichlorophenyl                                               1.012                                                                              OH        2-Chloro-4-fluorophenyl                                          1.013                                                                              OH        3,5-Dichlorophenyl                                               1.014                                                                              OH        2-Methylphenyl    140-143                                        1.015                                                                              OH        2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl                                          1.016                                                                              OH        3-Methylphenyl                                                   1.017                                                                              OH        4-Methylphenyl                                                   1.018                                                                              OH        2,6-Dimethylphenyl                                               1.019                                                                              OH        3,5-Dimethylphenyl                                               1.020                                                                              OH        2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl                                                                             75-78                                         1.021                                                                              OH        2,4-Dimethylphenyl                                               1.022                                                                              OH        2-Chloro-4-methylphenyl                                          1.023                                                                              OH        2,3,5-Trichlorophenyl                                            1.024                                                                              OH        4-Methoxyphenyl                                                  1.025                                                                              OH        2-Methoxyphenyl   150-152                                        1.026                                                                              OH        4-Chloro-2-methoxyphenyl                                         1.027                                                                              OH        2-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                          1.028                                                                              OH        2,3-Dimethyl-4-methoxyphenyl                                     1.029                                                                              OH        2-Dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl                                   1.030                                                                              OH        3-Cyanophenyl                                                    1.031                                                                              OH        3-Phenoxyphenyl                                                  1.032                                                                              OH        3-(3-Trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl                               1.033                                                                              OH        3-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                          1.034                                                                              OH        3-Bromophenyl                                                    1.035                                                                              OH        3-Chlorophenyl                                                   1.036                                                                              OH        4-Bromophenyl     168-175                                        1.037                                                                              OH        4-Chlorophenyl                                                   1.038                                                                              OH        4-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                          1.039                                                                              OH        3-(3,4-Dichlorophenoxy)phenyl                                    1.040                                                                              OH        4-Methylthiophenyl                                               1.041                                                                              OH        4-tert.-Butylphenyl                                                                              210-255 (decomp).sup.a)                        1.042                                                                              OH        Phenyl                                                           1.043                                                                              OH        Phenyl                                                           1.044                                                                              OH        3-Methoxyphenyl                                                  1.045                                                                              OH        4-Ethoxycarbonylphenyl                                           1.046                                                                              OH        Pyrazol-1-yl      175-179                                        1.047                                                                              OH        3,5-Dimethylpyrazol-1-yl                                                                         182 (decomp)                                   1.048                                                                              OH        3(5)-Methylpyrazol-1-yl                                                                          184 (decomp)                                   1.049                                                                              OH        4-Methylpyrazol-1-yl                                                                             162 (decomp)                                   1.050                                                                              OH        4-Chloropyrazol-1-yl                                                                             175 (decomp)                                   1.051                                                                              OH        4-Bromopyrazol-1-yl                                              1.052                                                                              OH        4-Phenylpyrazol-1-yl                                                                             200-202                                        1.053                                                                              OH        3,4,5-Trimethylpyrazol-1-yl                                                                      180 (decomp)                                   1.054                                                                              OH        4-Chlor-3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl                                                                 209-212 (decomp)                               1.055                                                                              OH        4-Isopropylpyrazol-1-yl                                          1.056                                                                              OH        3(5)-Phenylpyrazol-1-yl                                                                          212 (decomp)                                   1.057                                                                              OH        3(5)-Methyl-5(3)-phenylpyrazol-1-yl                                                              230-234 (decomp)                               1.058                                                                              OH        3,5-Bistrifluormethylpyrazol-1-yl                                1.059                                                                              OH        4-Nitropyrazol-1-yl                                              1.060                                                                              OH        Imidazol-1-yl     216 (decomp)                                   1.061                                                                              OH        2-Methylimidazol-1-yl                                            1.062                                                                              OH        4,5-Dimethylimidazol-1-yl                                        1.063                                                                              OH        2-Phenylimidazol-1-yl                                            1.064                                                                              OH        4,5-Dichlorimidazol-1-yl                                                                         180 (decomp)                                   1.065                                                                              OH        2,4,5-Trichlorimidazol-1-yl                                      1.066                                                                              OH        2-Methyl-4,5-dichlorimidazol-1-yl                                1.067                                                                              OH        2-Methyl-4,5-dibromimidazol-1-yl                                 1.068                                                                              OH        4(5)-Chlor-5(4)-methylimidazol-1-yl                              1.069                                                                              OH        4(5)-Nitroimidazol-1-yl                                          1.070                                                                              OH        [1,2,4]-Triazol-1-yl                                                                             214-215 (decomp)                               1.071                                                                              OH        3(5)-Methyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl                                                                 210-211 (decomp)                               1.072                                                                              OH        3(5)-Phenyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl                                                                 225 (decomp)                                   1.073                                                                              OH        3,5-Dimethyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl                                                                255 (decomp)                                   1.074                                                                              OH        [1,2,4]-Triazol-1-yl                                             1.075                                                                              OH        4,5-Dimethyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-1-yl                                1.076                                                                              OH        4(5)-Phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-1-yl                                 1.077                                                                              OH        [1,2,4]-Tetrazol-1-yl                                            1.078                                                                              OH        1-Phenyl-pyrazol-4-yl-pyrazol-4-yl                               1.079                                                                              OH        1,3,5-Trimethylpyrazol-4-yl                                      1.080                                                                              OH        1-Methylpyrazol-4-yl                                             1.081                                                                              OH        1-Methylpyrazol-5-yl                                             1.082                                                                              OH        1-Phenylpyrazol-5-yl                                             1.083                                                                              OH        1-Methylpyrazol-3-yl                                             1.084                                                                              OH        1-Phenylpyrazol-3-yl                                             1.085                                                                              OH        1,4-Dimethylpyrazol-3-yl                                         1.086                                                                              OH        5-Methyl-1-phenyl-pyrazol-3-yl                                   1.087                                                                              OH        1,5-Dimethylpyrazol-3-yl                                         1.088                                                                              OH        1,3-Dimethylpyrazol-4-yl                                         1.089                                                                              OH        1,5-Dimethylpyrazol-4-yl                                         1.090                                                                              OH        3-Methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl                                    1.091                                                                              OH        5-Methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl                                    1.092                                                                              OH        3,5-Dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl                                1.093                                                                              OH        3-Methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-yl                                    1.094                                                                              OH        1,4-Dimethylpyrazol-5-yl                                         1.095                                                                              OH        1,3-Dimethylpyrazol-5-yl                                         1.096                                                                              OH        1-Methyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-5-yl                                    1.097                                                                              OH        1-Phenyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-5-yl                                    1.098                                                                              OH        1-Phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-4-yl                                    1.099                                                                              OH        5-Methyl-1-phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-4-yl                           1.100                                                                              OH        5-Methyl-1-phenyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-3-yl                           1.101                                                                              OH        1-Methylimidazol-2-yl                                            1.102                                                                              OH        1,4-Dimethylimidazol-5-yl                                        1.103                                                                              OH        1-Methyl-5-nitroimidazol-2-yl                                    1.104                                                                              OH        1-Methylimidazol-5-yl                                            1.105                                                                              OH        1-Phenylimidazol-5-yl                                            1.106                                                                              OH        2-Thienyl                                                        1.107                                                                              OH        3-Thienyl                                                        1.108                                                                              OH        2,3-Dichloro-4-thienyl                                           1.109                                                                              OH        2,5-Dichloro-3-thienyl                                           1.110                                                                              OH        2-Bromo-5-thienyl                                                1.111                                                                              OH        4-Bromo-2-thienyl                                                1.112                                                                              OH        3-Methyl-2-thienyl                                               1.113                                                                              OH        2-Chloro-5-thienyl                                               1.114                                                                              OH        2-Methyl-5-thienyl                                               1.115                                                                              OH        2-Nitro-5-thienyl                                                1.116                                                                              OH        Isoxazol-5-yl                                                    1.117                                                                              OH        3-Methylisoxazol-5-yl                                            1.118                                                                              OH        3-Isopropylisoxazol-5-yl                                         1.119                                                                              OH        3-Phenylisoxazol-5-yl                                            1.120                                                                              OH        3-Methyl-4-chloroisoxazol-5-yl                                   1.121                                                                              OH        3-Methylisoxazol-4-yl                                            1.122                                                                              OH        Isoxazol-4-yl                                                    1.123                                                                              OH        3,5-Dimethylisoxazol-4-yl                                        1.124                                                                              OH        2-Methyloxazol-4-yl                                              1.125                                                                              OH        Oxazol-2-yl                                                      1.126                                                                              OH        2-Methylthiazol-4-yl                                             1.127                                                                              OH        2-Phenylthiazol-4-yl                                             1.128                                                                              OH        Thiazol-4-yl                                                     1.129                                                                              OH        2-Benzylthiazol-4-yl                                             1.130                                                                              OH        5-Chloro-2-phenylthiazol-4-yl                                    1.131                                                                              OH        Thiazol-2-yl                                                     1.132                                                                              OH        Thiazol-5-yl                                                     1.133                                                                              OH        4-Methylthiazol-2-yl                                             1.134                                                                              OH        5-Methylthiazol-2-yl                                             1.135                                                                              OH        4-Phenylthiazol-2-yl                                             1.136                                                                              OH        4-Methylthiazol-5-yl                                             1.137                                                                              OH        2-Methylthiazol-5-yl                                             1.138                                                                              OH        2-Phenylthiazol-5-yl                                             1.139                                                                              OH        [1,3,4]-Thiadiazol-2-yl                                          1.140                                                                              OH        5-Methyl-[1,3,4]-thiadiazol-2-yl                                 1.141                                                                              OH        5-Phenyl-[1,3,4] -thiadiazol-2-yl                                1.142                                                                              OCH.sub.3 1,4-Dichlorophenyl                                                                               120-147/0.53                                   1.143                                                                              OCH.sub.3 3,5-Dichlorophenyl                                                                               145-160/0.27                                   1.144                                                                              OCH.sub.3 Pyrazol-1-yl      oil                                            1.145                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Fluorophenyl    114-135/0.27                                   1.146                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Methylphenyl    140-147/0.8                                    1.147                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Methoxyphenyl   156-185/0.57                                   1.148                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Nitrophenyl     107-120                                        1.149                                                                              OCH.sub.3 2-Methoxyphenyl   153-173/0.57                                   1.150                                                                              OH        4-Nitrophenyl     >300.sup.a)                                    1.151                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-tert.-Butylphenyl                                                                              158-178/0.66                                   1.152                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Phenylphenyl    195-220/0.57                                   1.153                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Cyanophenyl     182-215/1.33                                   1.154                                                                              OH        4-Carboxyphenyl   210-218 (decomp)                               1.155                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Phenoxyphenyl   203-218/0.4                                    1.156                                                                              OH        4-Phenoxyphenyl   142-148                                        1.157                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-(4'-Fluorophenoxy)-phenyl                                                                      203-220/0.57                                   1.158                                                                              OH        4-(4'-Fluorophenoxy)-phenyl                                                                      130-135                                        1.159                                                                              OH        4-Phenylphenyl    175-185                                        1.160                                                                              OH        2-Nitrophenyl     132-135                                        1.161                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Bromophenyl     156-173/1.33                                   1.162                                                                              OCH.sub.3 2-Chlorophenyl    126-151/0.4                                    1.163                                                                              OCH.sub.3 Phenyl            147-172/0.8                                    1.164                                                                              OCH.sub.3 2-Methylphenyl    119-132/0.57                                   1.165                                                                              OCH.sub.3 2-Thienyl         118-160/0.4                                    1.166                                                                              OCH.sub.3 3-Methylphenyl     70-145/0.66                                   1.167                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Chlorophenyl    120-150/0.66                                   1.168                                                                              OCH.sub.3 2-Fluorophenyl     80-95/0.57                                    1.169                                                                              OCH.sub.3 3-Methoxyphenyl   160-175/0.66                                   1.170                                                                              OCH.sub.3 4-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                                                          120-160/0.66                                   1.171                                                                              OH        4-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                                                          120-160/0.66                                   1.172                                                                              OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                         Phenyl            150-162/1.33                                   1.173                                                                              OH        3-Isopropyl-pyrazol-1-yl                                                                         160-63                                         1.174                                                                              OH        3(5)-Methylthio-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl                                                               215 (decomp)                                   1.175                                                                              OH        3(5)-Methylthio-5(3)-methyl-1,2,4-                                                               130 (decomp)                                                 triazol-1-yl                                                     1.176                                                                              OH        3(5)-Phenyl-5(3)-methyl-1,2,4-                                                                   240 (decomp)                                                 triazol-1-yl                                                     1.177                                                                              O-pyr.sup.b)                                                                             Phenyl                                                           1.178                                                                              O-imi.sup.b)                                                                             Phenyl                                                           1.179                                                                              ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       Phenyl                                                           1.180                                                                              ONHC(CH.sub.3).sub.3                                                                     Phenyl                                                           1.181                                                                              O-pip.sup.b)                                                                             Phenyl                                                           1.182                                                                              O-mor.sup.b)                                                                             Phenyl                                                           __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.a) Data of the corresponding disodium salt                                .sup.b) pyr = 1Pyrazolyl; imi = 1Imidazolyl; pip = 1Piperidinyl,               mor = 4Morpholinyl                                                       

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of 2-Methylsulfonyl-4-Methoxy-5,6-Dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]Pyrimidine 2-Methylthio-4-Chloro-5,6-Dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-Pyrimidine

At 125°-130° C., 212.0 g (1.07 mol) of trichloromethyl chloroformate is dripped over a period of 3 hours into a suspension of 65.8 g (0.357 mol) of 2-methylthio-4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrofuran-[2,3-dl-pyrimidine (Collect. Czech. Chem. Comm., 32, 1582, 1967) in 900 ml of chlorobenzene, three times 0.5 ml of DMF being added. The reaction mixture is stirred for one hour at 130° C. and evaporated down under reduced pressure, and the residue (74 g of an oil) is chromatographed on silica gel (9:1 mixture of toluene kl5 and cyclohexane). Yield: 17.0 g of the above product of m.p. 68°-71° C.

2-Methylthio-4-Methoxy-5,6-Dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-Pyrimidine

17.0 g (84 mmol) of 2-methylthio-4-chloro-5,6-dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-pyrimidine is introduced into 90 ml of methanol. At 45° C., 21.1 g (0.117 mol) of 30% strength sodium methylate solution is dripped in and the whole is stirred for 2 hours at 500C. The reaction mixture is neutralized to a pH of 6 with a small amount of glacial acetic acid and stirred into 350 ml of ice water. Suction filtration, washing with water and drying give 15.1 g of the above product of m.p. 90°-92° C.

2-Methylsulfonyl-4-Methoxy-5,6-Dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-Pyrimidine

At 0° to 50° C. and-while stirring, chlorine is passed into a mixture of 15.1 g of 2-methylthio-4-methoxy-5,6-dihydrofuran-(2,3-dl-pyrimidine in 120 ml of methylene chloride and 76 ml of water until the reaction mixture is pale yellow. After the mixture has been stirred for 30 minutes the organic phase is separated off and the aqueous phase is extracted with 100 ml of methylene chloride. The combined organic phases are dried and evaporated down. From the residue (16.7 g) there is isolated, after chromatography on silica gel (4:1 mixture of toluene and ethyl acetate) 5.5 g of the above product of m.p. 122°-124° C.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of 2-Methylsulfonyl-4-Methyl-5,6-Dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-Pyrimidine

Analogously to Example 6, the above product (m.p. 85°-90° C.) is obtained in an 80% yield from 2-methylthio-4-methyl-5,6-dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-pyrimidine (Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun., 32, 1582, 1967).

The sulfones III listed in Table 2 may be similarly obtained.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR20##                                                                     R.sup.13    R.sup.2  Phys. data [°C.]                                   ______________________________________                                         CH.sub.3    Cl                                                                 CH.sub.3    OCHF.sub.2                                                         CH.sub.3    OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                   C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                          ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8 3-(4-Methoxy-5,6-Dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-Pyrimidin-2-yl)-oxy-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (Compound No. 5.001)

1.57 g (14 mmol) of potassium tert-butylate is added to 1.50 g (7 mmol) of -phenylsalicylic acid in 15 ml of anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide, and the mixture is stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. 1.61 g (7 mmol) of -methylsulfonyl-4,6-dimethoxy-5,6-dihydrofuran-[2,3-d]-pyrimidine is added and the reaction mixture is then stirred for 48 hours at room temperature before being poured into 300 ml of water to which 2.5 ml of phosphoric acid has been added. The precipitate is isolated, made into a paste with toluene, and suction filtered. The crude product is stirred for hour in a mixture of 0.5 ml of phosphoric acid and 10 ml of water; after suction filtration and drying there is obtained 1.3 g of the above product of m.p. 176°-178° C.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compounds I in which Y is carbon                                                ##STR21##                              I                                      No. R.sup.1   R.sup.2                                                                            X  R.sup.4                                                                             R.sup.3                                                                              Phys. data mp. [°C.]                    __________________________________________________________________________     3.001                                                                              OH        CH.sub.3                                                                           O  H    H                                                    3.002                                                                              OCH.sub.3 CH.sub.3                                                                           O  H    H     101-103                                        3.003                                                                              OH        CH.sub.3                                                                           O  Cl   H                                                    3.004                                                                              OCH.sub.3 CH.sub.3                                                                           O  Cl   H     124-127                                        3.005                                                                              OH        Cl  O  Cl   H                                                    3.006                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  H    H                                                    3.007                                                                              OCH.sub.3 OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  H    H     107                                            3.008                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H     170                                            3.009                                                                              OCH.sub.3 OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    3.010                                                                              2-Propaniminoxy                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    3.011                                                                              Methylthiomethoxy                                                                        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    3.012                                                                              Propargyloxy                                                                             OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    3.013                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          S  Cl   H     155-160                                        3.014                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  F    H                                                    3.015                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  OCH.sub.3                                                                           H                                                    3.016                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  OC.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                    H                                                    3.017                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  SCH.sub.3                                                                           H                                                    3.018                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  CF.sub.3                                                                            H                                                    3.019                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  CHO  H                                                    3.020                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                                   H                                                    3.021                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  OCHF.sub.2                                                                          H                                                    3.022                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  CH.sub.2CHCHCH.sub.2                                      3.023                                                                              OH        OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  NCHCHCH.sub.2                                             3.024                                                                              O-(1-pyrazolyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    3.025                                                                              ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    3.026                                                                              O-(4-morpholinyl)                                                                        OCH.sub.3                                                                          S  Cl   H                                                    3.027                                                                              OP(O)(OC.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    3.028                                                                              NHSO.sub.2CH.sub.3                                                                       OCH.sub.3                                                                          O  Cl   H                                                    __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Compounds I in which Y is nitrogen                                              ##STR22##                     I                                               No.     R.sup.1       R.sup.2 Phys. data [°C.]                          ______________________________________                                         4.001   OH            OCH.sub.3                                                4.002   OCH.sub.3     OCH.sub.3                                                4.003   2-Propaniminoxy                                                                              OCH.sub.3                                                4.004   Propargyloxy  OCH.sub.3                                                4.005   O-(1-pyrazolyl)                                                                              OCH.sub.3                                                4.006   ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compounds I in which Y is carbon and R.sup.4 is a substituted or               unsubstituted phenyl radical                                                    ##STR23##                               I                                                                          Phys. data                                No.                                                                               R.sup.1     R.sup.2                                                                            R.sup.4           mp. [°C.]                          __________________________________________________________________________     5.001                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl            176-178                                   5.002                                                                             OCH.sub.3   OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.003                                                                             2-Propaniminoxy                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.004                                                                             1-Imidazolyl                                                                               OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.005                                                                             Methylthiomethoxy                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.006                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Fluorophenyl                                              5.007                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Fluorophenyl                                              5.008                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Fluorophenyl                                              5.009                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,6-Difluorophenyl                                          5.010                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,4-Difluorophenyl                                          5.011                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl                            5.012                                                                             H           OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,3-Difluorophenyl                                          5.013                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Chlorophenyl                                              5.014                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Iodophenyl                                                5.015                                                                             Methoxyethoxy                                                                              OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Bromophenyl                                               5.016                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Bromophenyl                                               5.017                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Chloro-6-fluorophenyl                                     5.018                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pentafluorophenyl                                           5.019                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,4-Difluorophenyl                                          5.020                                                                             OCH.sub.3   OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,4-Dichlorophenyl                                          5.021                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,6-Dichlorophenyl                                          5.022                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Chloro-4-fluorophenyl                                     5.023                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Dichlorophenyl                                          5.024                                                                             3-Dodecaniminoxy                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Dichlorophenyl                                          5.025                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methylphenyl                                              5.026                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methylphenyl                                              5.027                                                                             Ethylthioethoxy                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methylphenyl                                              5.028                                                                             1-Imidazolyl                                                                               OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methylphenyl                                              5.029                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Chloro-6-methylphenyl                                     5.030                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Methylphenyl                                              5.031                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Methylphenyl                                              5.032                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,6-Dimethylphenyl                                          5.033                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Dimethylphenyl                                          5.034                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl                                       5.035                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl                                       5.036                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,4-Dimethylphenyl                                          5.037                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Chloro-4-methylphenyl                                     5.038                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,3,5-Trichlorophenyl                                       5.039                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Methoxyphenyl                                             5.040                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methoxyphenyl                                             5.041                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Chloro-2-methoxyphenyl                                    5.042                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                     5.043                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,3-Dimethyl-4-methoxyphenyl                                5.044                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl                              5.045                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Cyanophenyl                                               5.046                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Nitrophenyl                                               5.047                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Phenoxyphenyl                                             5.048                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-(3-Trifluoromethylphenoxy)-phenyl                         5.049                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                     5.050                                                                             OCH.sub.3   OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                     5.051                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Bromophenyl                                               5.052                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Chlorophenyl                                              5.053                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Bromophenyl                                               5.054                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Chlorophenyl                                              5.055                                                                             OH          OCH.sub. 3                                                                         4-Trifluoromethylphenyl                                     5.056                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-(3,4-Dichlorophenoxy)phenyl                               5.057                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Methylthiophenyl                                          5.058                                                                             O-(1-pyrazolyl)                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.059                                                                             O-(1-imidazolyl)                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.060                                                                             ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                         OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.061                                                                             ONHC(CH.sub.3).sub.3                                                                       OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.062                                                                             O-(1-piperidinyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.063                                                                             O-(4-morpholinyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.064                                                                             OP(O)(OCH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                     OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      5.065                                                                             NHSO.sub.2C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -4-CH.sub.3                                                      OCH.sub.3                                                                          Phenyl                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compounds I in which R.sup.4 is a heterocyclic radical and Y is carbon          ##STR24##                                   I                                 No.                                                                               R.sup.1     R.sup.2                                                                            R.sup.4           Phys. data mp. [°C.]               __________________________________________________________________________     6.001                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl      169-172, decomp.                          6.002                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.003                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Methylpyrazol-1-yl                                        6.004                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Dimethylpyrazol-1-yl                                    6.005                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Dimethylpyrazol-1-yl                                    6.006                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3(5)-Methylpyrazol-1-yl                                     6.007                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Methylpyrazol-1-yl                                        6.008                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Chloropyrazol-1-yl                                        6.009                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Chloropyrazol-1-yl                                        6.010                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Bromopyrazol-1-yl                                         6.011                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Phenylpyrazol-1-yl                                        6.012                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Phenylpyrazol-1-yl                                        6.013                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,4,5-Trimethylpyrazol-1-yl                                 6.014                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Chloro-3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl                           6.015                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Isopropylpyrazol-1-yl                                     6.016                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3(5)-Phenylpyrazol-1-yl                                     6.017                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3(5)-Methyl-5(3)-phenylpyrazol-1-yl                         6.018                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Bistrifluoromethylpyrazol-1-yl                          6.019                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Nitropyrazol-1-yl                                         6.020                                                                             Methylthiomethoxy                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.021                                                                             Methoxyethoxy                                                                              OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.022                                                                             OCH.sub.2COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.023                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Imidazolyl-1-yl                                             6.024                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methylimidazol-1-yl                                       6.025                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4,5-Dimethylimidazol-1-yl                                   6.026                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Phenylimidazol-1-yl                                       6.027                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4,5-Dichloroimidazol-1-yl                                   6.028                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,4,5-Trichloroimidazol-1-yl                                6.029                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methyl-4,5-dichloroimidazol-1-yl                          6.030                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methyl-4,5-dibromoimidazol-1-yl                           6.031                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4(5)-Chloro-5(4)-methylimidazol-1-yl                        6.032                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4(5)-Nitroimidazol-yl                                       6.033                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          [1,2,4]-Triazol-1-yl                                        6.034                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3(5)-Methyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl                            6.035                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3(5)-Phenyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl                            6.036                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Dimethyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl                           6.037                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          [1,2,3]-Triazol-1-yl                                        6.038                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4,5-Dimethyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-1-yl                           6.039                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4(5)-Phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-1-yl                            6.040                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          [1,2,3,4]-Tetrazol-1-yl                                     6.041                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylpyrazol-4-yl                                        6.042                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Phenylpyrazol-4-yl                                        6.043                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Phenylpyrazol-4-yl                                        6.044                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,3,5-Trimethylpyrazol-4-yl                                 6.045                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,3,5-Trimethylpyrazol-4-yl                                 6.046                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylpyrazol-4-yl                                        6.047                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylpyrazol-5-yl                                        6.048                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Phenylpyrazol-5-yl                                        6.049                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylpyrazol-3-yl                                        6.050                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Phenylpyrazol-3-yl                                        6.051                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylpyrazol-3-yl                                        6.052                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,4-Dimethylpyrazol-3-yl                                    6.053                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          5-Methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-3-yl                               6.054                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,5-Dimethylpyrazol-3-yl                                    6.055                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,3-Dimethylpyrazol-4-yl                                    6.056                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,5-Dimethylpyrazol-4-yl                                    6.057                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl                               6.058                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          5-Methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl                               6.059                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3,5-Dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl                           6.060                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-yl                               6.061                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,4-Dimethylpyrazol-5-yl                                    6.062                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,3-Dimethylpyrazol-5-yl                                    6.063                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-5-yl                               6.064                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-5-yl                               6.065                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-4-yl                               6.066                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          5-Methyl-1-phenyl-[1,2,3]-triazol-4-yl                      6.067                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          5-Methyl-1-phenyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-3-yl                      6.068                                                                             OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylimidazol-2-yl                                       6.069                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylimidazol-2-yl                                       6.070                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1,4-Dimethylimidazol-5-yl                                   6.071                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methyl-5-nitroimidazol-2-yl                               6.072                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Methylimidazol-5-yl                                       6.073                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Phenylimidazol-5-yl                                       6.074                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Thienyl                                                   6.075                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Thienyl                                                   6.076                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,3-Dichloro-4-thienyl                                      6.077                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,5-Dichloro-3-thienyl                                      6.078                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Bromo-5-thienyl                                           6.079                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          4-Bromo-2-thienyl                                           6.080                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Methyl-2-thienyl                                          6.081                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Chloro-5-thienyl                                          6.082                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methyl-5-thienyl                                          6.083                                                                             O-(1-pyrazolyl)                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.084                                                                             O-(1-imidazolyl)                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.085                                                                             ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                         OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.086                                                                             ONHC(CH.sub.3).sub. 3                                                                      OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.087                                                                             O-(1-piperidinyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.088                                                                             (4-morpholinyl)                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          Pyrazol-1-yl                                                6.089                                                                             O-(1-pyrazolyl)                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          Imidazol-1-yl                                               6.090                                                                             ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                         OCH.sub.3                                                                          Imidazol-1-yl                                               6.091                                                                             O-(4-morpholinyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          Imidazol-1-yl                                               6.092                                                                             O-(1-pyrazolyl)                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Thienyl                                                   6.093                                                                             O-(1-imidazolyl)                                                                           OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Thienyl                                                   6.094                                                                             ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                         OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Thienyl                                                   6.095                                                                             ONHC(CH.sub.3).sub.3                                                                       OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Thienyl                                                   6.096                                                                             O-(1-piperidinyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          3-Thienyl                                                   6.097                                                                             O-(4-morpholinyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Thienyl                                                   6.098                                                                             OP(O)(OC.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2                                                              OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Thienyl                                                   6.099                                                                             NHSO.sub.2C.sub.6 H.sub.4CH.sub.3                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Pyrazolyl                                                 __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compounds I in which R.sup.4 is a naphthyl or quinolinyl radical and Y is      carbon                                                                          ##STR25##                                I                                    No.                                                                               R.sup.1     R.sup.2                                                                            R.sup.4        Phys. data mp. [°C.]                  __________________________________________________________________________     7.001                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Naphthyl                                                  7.002                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Naphthyl                                                  7.003                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Chloro-1-naphthyl                                         7.004                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          6-Chloro-1-naphthyl                                         7.005                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2,6-Dichloro-1-naphthyl                                     7.006                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methyl-1-naphthyl                                         7.007                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          6-Chloro-2-methyl-1-naphthyl                                7.008                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Quinolinyl                                                7.009                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          6-Quinolinyl                                                7.010                                                                             OH          OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Methyl-6-quinolinyl                                       7.011                                                                             OCH.sub.3   OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Naphthyl                                                  7.012                                                                             OCH.sub.3   OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Naphthyl                                                  7.013                                                                             2-Propaniminoxy                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Naphthyl                                                  7.014                                                                             Propargyloxy                                                                               OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Naphthyl                                                  7.015                                                                             1-Imidazolyl                                                                               OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Naphthyl                                                  7.016                                                                             O-(1-pyrazolyl)                                                                            OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Naphthyl                                                  7.017                                                                             ON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                         OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Naphthyl                                                  7.018                                                                             O-(4-morpholinyl)                                                                          OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Naphthyl                                                  7.019                                                                             OP(O)(OC.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2                                                              OCH.sub.3                                                                          1-Naphthyl                                                  7.020                                                                             NHSO.sub.2C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -4-CH.sub.3                                                      OCH.sub.3                                                                          2-Naphthyl                                                  __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATING HERBICIDAL ACTION

The herbicidal action of the carboxylic acid derivatives of the formula I is demonstrated in greenhouse experiments:

The vessels employed were plastic flowerpots having a volume of 300 cm³ and filled with a sandy loam containing about 3.0% humus. The seeds of the test plants were sown separately, according to species.

For the preemergence treatment, the formulated active ingredients were applied to the surface of the soil immediately after the seeds had been sown. The compounds were emulsified or suspended in water as vehicle, and sprayed through finely distributing nozzles.

After the agents had been applied, the vessels were lightly sprinkle-irrigated to induce germination and growth. Transparent plastic covers were then placed on the vessels until the plants had taken root. The cover ensured uniform germination of the plants, insofar as this was not impaired by the active ingredients.

For the postemergence treatment, plants were used which had been sown in the pots and grown there, or they were grown separately as seedlings and transplanted to the pots a few days before treatment. The plants were grown, depending on growth form, to a height of 3 to 15 cm before being treated with the active ingredients, suspended or emulsified in water.

The pots were set up in the greenhouse, heat-loving species at 20° to 35° C., and species from moderate climates at 10° to 25° C. The experiments were run for from 2 to 4 weeks. During this period the plants were tended and their reactions to the various treatments assessed. The assessment scale was 0 to 100, 100 denoting nonemergence or complete destruction of at least the visible plant parts, and 0 denoting no damage or normal growth.

The plants used in the greenhouse experiments were Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus retroflexus and Solanum nigrum.

Compounds 3.008 and 3.013, applied postemergence at a rate of 0.06 kg/ha, provided excellent control of unwanted plants. 

We claim:
 1. A salicylaldehyde or salicylic acid derivative of the formula I ##STR26## where Y is nitrogen or carbon;R¹ is (a) hydrogen; (b) succinylimidooxy group; (c) a 5-membered heteroaromatic structure with from two to three hetero nitrogen atoms and may carry from one to four halogen atoms or one or two of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy and/or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; (d) a radical --OR⁵, where R⁵ is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation, one equivalent of an alkaline earth metal cation, one equivalent of an alkaline earth metal cation or an organic ammonium ion; C₃ -C₁₂ -cycloalkyl which may carry from one to three C₁ -C₄ -alkyl radicals; C₁ -C₁₀ alkyl which may carry from one to five halogen atoms or one of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, cyano, C₁ -C₈ -alkylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₈ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₃ -C₁₂ -cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenoxy or phenylcarbonyl, where the aromatic radicals in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy and/or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; (e) C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl which may carry from one to five halogen atoms and carries one of the following radicals: a 5-membered heteroaromatic structure with as hetero atoms from one to three nitrogen atoms or one nitrogen atom and one oxygen or sulfur atom and may carry from one to four halogen atoms or one or two of the following radicals: C₁ --C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ haloalkoxy and or C_(1-C) ₄ -alkylthio; (f) C₂ -C₆ -alkyl which carries one of the following radicals in the 2-position: C₁ -C₆ -alkoximino, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloximino, C₃ -C₆ -haloalkenyloximino or benzyloximino; (g) C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, where these groups in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms; (h) phenyl which is unsubstituted or monosubstituted to trisubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy or monosubstituted to pentasubstituted by halogen; (i) an unsubstituted or substituted 5-membered aromatic heteorcyclic structure which has from one to four nitrogen atoms in the ring and is bonded via a nitrogen atom; (j) a group --N═CR⁶ R⁷, where R⁶ and R⁷ are each C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl which may carry phenyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, or are each phenyl or together form a C₃ -C₁₂ -alkylene chain which may carry from one to three C₁ -C₃ -alkyl groups; a radical ##STR27## where m is 0 or 1 and R₁₄ and R₁₅ may be identical or different and have the following meanings: hydrogen; C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, where these radicals may each carry from one to five halogen atoms or one or two of the following groups: C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloxy, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyloxy, C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio, C₃ -C₆ -alkenylthio, C₃ -C₆ -alkynylthio, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkoxy, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenylcarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloxycarbonyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyloxycarbonyl, bis-C₁ -C₆ -dialkylamino, C₃ -C₆ -cycloalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl; unsubstituted or substituted C₃ -14 C₆ -cycloalkyl; unsubstituted or substituted phenyl; R¹⁴ together with R¹⁵ form a pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidyl, or 4- morpholinyl group which is unsubstituted or substituted; (1) a group ##STR28## where R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are each hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ - C₆ -alkynyl and p is 1, 2, 3 or 4; (m) or a group

    --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --S(═O).sub.k --R.sup.18

where R¹⁸ is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, p is 1, 2, 3, or 4 and k is 0, 1 or 2; (n) a radical OR⁵, where R⁵ is a group ##STR29## where R¹⁸ and p have the above-mentioned meanings; (o) or a radical ##STR30## where R¹⁹ is C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or phenyl, which in turn may carry from one to four of the following substituents: halogen, nitro, cyano or C₁ -C₆ -alkyl; R² is C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy or halogen; R³ is hydrogen, or together with R⁴, is a group CH₂ ═CH--CH═CH₂ or N═CH--CH═CH₂ ; R⁴ is hydrogen, halogen, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy, phenoxy or phenoxy substituted by methyl, fluorine, chlorine, or methoxy; C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, formyl or C₁ -C₈ -alkoxycarbonyl; an unsubstituted or monosubstituted to trisubstituted or, where halogen is a substitutent, monosubstituted to pentasubstituted phenyl radical ##STR31## where R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are each hydrogen, halogen, cyano or nitro; C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyloxy, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyloxy or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, where these groups in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms; di-C₁ -C₄ -alkylamnio, C₃ -C₈ -cycloalkyl which may carry from one to three C₁ -C₄ -alkyl radicals; C₁ -C₁₀ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; phenoxy where the aromatic radical may carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; C₁ -C₁₀ -alkyl or -alkoxy which may carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or one of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, phenyl or phenoxy, where the aromatic radicals in turn may carry from one to five halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio; or R⁴ is a 5-membered heteroaromatic structure having from one to four nitrogen atoms or one or two nitrogen atoms and in addition one sulfur or oxygen atom in the ring, or is a benzofused 5-membered heteroaromatic structure having from one to three nitrogen atoms or one nitrogen atom and in addition one oxygen or sulfur atom in the ring, which heteroaromatic structures may carry from one to three halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: nitro, cyano, C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio, C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by from one to three halogen atoms and/or from one to three methyl groups; a thienyl or benzothienyl radical which may carry from one to three halogen atoms and/or from one to three of the following radicals: C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C¹ - or C₂ -haloalkyl or nitro; an unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl or quinolyl radical; or oxygen when Y is nitrogen and n is 1; n is 1 when Y is carbon or when Y is nitrogen and R⁴ is oxygen, and 0 when Y is nitrogen and R⁴ is not oxygen; X is oxygen or sulfur, and Y is nitrogen when R³ is hydrogen and n is 0 or when R⁴ is oxygen an n is 1; carbon when R³ and R⁴ together from a group CH₂ ═CH--CH═CH₂ or N═CH--CH═CH₂ and carbon when R³ is hydrogen and n is 1; wherein the term substituted means in each case that groups thus defined may carry from one to three substitutents selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio and environmentally compatible salts of the compounds I.
 2. A salicylaldehyde or salicylic acid derivative of the formula as defined in claim 1, wherein R² is methoxy, X is oxygen and Y and R¹, R³ and R⁴ have the meanings stated in claim
 1. 3. A herbicidal composition consisting of an effective amount of a compound of the formula I as defined in claim 1 and conventional inert additives.
 4. A method for controlling undesirable plant growth, wherein the undesirable plants or their habitat is or are treated with a herbicidal amount of a derivative I as defined in claim
 1. 5. A composition for influencing plant growth consisting of an effective amount of a salicylaldehyde or salicyclic acid derivative of the formula I as defined in claim 1 and conventional inert additives.
 6. A method for regulating plant growth, wherein a bioregulatory amount of a salicylaldehyde or salicylic acid derivative of the formula I as defined in claim 1 is allowed to act on the seeds, the plants or their habitat. 